Notebook

In the morning news

Tonight’s Divided We Fail Democratic presidential forum at the Adler Theatre may be just one in a line of debates this campaign season.
But its focus on health care and financial security issues means it will zero in on a potent set of topics.

The Hill: Absence of Medicare provisions in SCHIP bill changes the stakes

The AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA) this week launched another round of their joint advertising campaign on SCHIP and Medicare. The ads caution Congress against putting off action the physician payment cut until the “11th hour.” The advertisements are scheduled to run during the SCHIP debate and through the end of the month.

“With Americans more responsible than ever for making better choices to secure their financial futures, financial literacy and an understanding about those decisions is increasingly important,” said David Certner, legislative counsel and policy director for AARP.

A new poll shows providing health-insurance coverage for more Americans is a top priority for U.S. adults and a majority believe it is the government’s duty to ensure all Americans have adequate coverage.